Injury scam draws prison

Woman gets 1-3 years for faking neck injury to get $43,400 in benefits

By ROBERT GAVIN Staff writer

Updated 9:29 am, Friday, June 24, 2011

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KELLY WOODS, 23, was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison and must pay $43,405 in restitution to New York State. In April, WOODS pleaded guilty to Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree after she fraudulently represented to doctors, the New York State Insurance Fund and the Workers Compensation Board that she suffered from permanent fixed torticollis ? a permanent flexion of her head at a 90-degree angle so that it was planted on her right shoulder at all times. This was allegedly the result of a workplace accident at a local construction firm based in Colonie. However, as established by numerous days of surveillance footage, WOODS was able to freely move her head and neck normally. (Office of District Attorney)

KELLY WOODS, 23, was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison and must pay $43,405 in restitution to New York State. In April, WOODS pleaded guilty to Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree after she fraudulently

ALBANY -- A woman who faked a serious neck injury to steal more than $43,000 in workers compensation benefits -- then escaped to Utah after she was caught -- was sentenced Thursday to 1 to 3 years in state prison.

Kelly Woods, 23, scammed doctors, the state Insurance Board and the Workers Compensation Board under the false notion that she suffered a neck injury in a workplace accident at a construction company in Colonie, Albany County prosecutors said.

She claimed she had permanent fixed torticollis, which prosecutors described as a "permanent flexion of her head at a 90-degree angle so that it was planted on her right shoulder at all times."

The lie allowed Woods to try to collect a $316,400 lump sum settlement from the insurance board. And she succeeding in outright stealing $43,400 from the workers compensation board between July 2008 and November 2010.

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Woods was thwarted when she was watched -- and video footage showed her freely moving her head and neck.

"When Woods was informed that she was going to be charged criminally," stated a news release from District Attorney David Soares, "she fled New York state for Utah and ultimately had to be extradited."

Prosecutors noted the construction firm where she claimed to have been hurt became a victim; her case helped workers compensation premiums surge at a particularly tough time in the local building industry.

Soares' release said Woods signed an agreement waiving future claims to benefits, which will free up $591,762 in compensation costs reserved for her bogus claim.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Clark.